Tag Archives: Thursday Ride

For a change we had decent weather. Not warm but sunny and dry and plenty of blue sky. Couldn’t have been much diferent from the week before and that’s no doubt the reason for the record turnout.

As with most of our rides, it started with a climb. We picked Paul Fitz up at the White Lion in Kildwick and headed up on to the moor. Before decending through Draugton and riding along the gated road to Bolton Abbey. Next destination was Ilkley via Nesfield (we’ll save Langbar for another week eh?).

The final real climb up Cocking Lane strung us all out but we hand a regroup at the top and some great photos courtesy of Steve Hannigan.

A great social ride enjoyed by all. Just what South Craven is all about.

A dry but overcast evening saw a good turn out for this week’s ride, with 8 Scwheelers setting off from Glusburn. Paul Fitz and new boy Dave setting the early pace, the bunch was soon strung out as it headed through Cononley and on towards Skipton. Luckily, frequent stops for dropped chains and natural breaks allowed the group to reform.

The temporary lights in Skipton presented a longer stop than anyone wanted but the group finally got the green for go and head up the High Street and on towards Embsay. A sharp left onto Brackenley Lane took us over to the Grassington Road before another left turn took us up the short steep climb of Bog Lane and over to the A65.

A quick blast along the A65 saw us reach Gargrave and the welcome quite of the back roads back down to the A59 at Broughton. Unfortunately this section was punctuated by another unwelcome stop, this time a puncture for Dave. However, a quick tube change assisted by Paul saw the group back on the road and chasing down Martin who has set off up the next hill to gain some time on the group.

With Neil Dobson making his return to the Thursday night ride after breaking his collar bone in May, the group decided to avoid the climb known locally as ‘The Basterd’ and headed back into Skipton. A split saw Bob and Steve K heading back towards Lothersdale while the rest of the bunch pressed on for home. The Scwheelers train really got going on the fast stretch from Skipton to Kildwick, with Dave and Nigel doing good work on the front before the group split again at Kildwick to go our separate ways.

We may have to rename the Wheelers as “The South Craven Waders” if this monsoon weather doesn’t end soon! Last nights ride started off badly with all the waders, sorry wheelers, sheltering under a tree outside Glusburn Institute! Right after everyone turned up, we had our first downpour, but after it subsided we decided to set off. There were calls to go to the pub but the rest of us summoned up our mental toughness and and rode up to Cowling Pinicle.

Thunder and lightning pursuaded us to head back down to Sutton where we ended up sheltering in Sutton park while it bounced down. After a rather wet hour of total wading time we headed home.